CFM for May 8-14, 2023 {Matthew 19-20; Mark 10; Luke 18}

 This blogpost is dedicated to helping parents and church teachers teach the Come, Follow Me curriculum for the week of May 8-14, 2023.   You will find a printable activity page, quotes, videos, and teaching ideas.  Feel free to add your own in the comments. 

Click here to see an index of all my CFM posts.

PRINTABLE ACTIVITY PAGE:  This 1/2 page double-sided activity sheet is perfect for handing to kids during sacrament meeting, as an attention getting activity in a class, or as a review for families.  My teens  {and husband }love it when there's a word search!  


HANDS-ON TEACHING IDEA: 

This video has a great hands-on / visual  way to teach about the Parable of the Laborers.  It's not taught from an LDS perspective, but the overall principles are good and easily adjustable to fit with church doctrine.  You could put a small picture of Christ in the bottom of the bag, instead of the cross.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rat_wlLUnCw

QUOTES:
"Brothers and sisters, there are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those.

Furthermore, envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving. Obviously we suffer a little when some misfortune befalls us, but envy requires us to suffer all good fortune that befalls everyone we know! What a bright prospect that is—downing another quart of pickle juice every time anyone around you has a happy moment! To say nothing of the chagrin in the end, when we find that God really is both just and merciful, giving to all who stand with Him “all that he hath,”2 as the scripture says. So lesson number one from the Lord’s vineyard: coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live."  Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Laborers in the Vineyard," April 2012

"I would like to suggest that each of you participate in a spiritual exercise sometime soon, perhaps even tonight while saying your prayers. Humbly ask the Lord the following question: “What is keeping me from progressing?” In other words: “What lack I yet?” Then wait quietly for a response. If you are sincere, the answer will soon become clear. It will be revelation intended just for you.

Perhaps the Spirit will tell you that you need to forgive someone. Or you may receive a message to be more selective about the movies you watch or the music you listen to. You may feel impressed to be more honest in your business dealings or more generous in your fast offerings. The possibilities are endless.

The Spirit can show us our weaknesses, but He is also able to show us our strengths. Sometimes we need to ask what we are doing right so that the Lord can lift and encourage us. When we read our patriarchal blessings, we are reminded that our Heavenly Father knows our divine potential. He rejoices every time we take a step forward. To Him, our direction is ever more important than our speed.

Be persistent, brothers and sisters, but never be discouraged. We will have to go beyond the grave before we actually reach perfection, but here in mortality we can lay the foundation. “It is our duty to be better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we are today.”9

If spiritual growth is not a priority in our lives, if we are not on a course of steady improvement, we will miss out on the important experiences that God wants to give us." Larry Lawrence, "What Lack I Yet?", October 2015

VIDEOS: 

Jesus Christ and the Rich Young Man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4FnoXC9xIA

The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUBf5rRSyO0

Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YehxfK8oXx0



Enjoy learning the gospel together! 

CFM Activity Sheet about the Beatitudes for Feb 13-19, 2023 {Matthew 5; Luke 6}

 "Blessed are Ye"

With 2000+ years of Christianity to look back on, it's sometimes interesting to think about how revolutionary Christ's teachings were in His time.  For people who'd spent their whole lives hearing about "eye for an eye" laws from the Law of Moses, it must have been quite jarring to hear about turning the other cheek and being a light unto the world.   I created this activity sheet to reinforce the teachings of Jesus from these chapters. 

February 13-19, 2023
Matthew 5; Luke 6

These pages are created to be printed double-sided, so that each activity page is 1/2 of  an 8-1/2x11" piece of paper.

ANOTHER TEACHING IDEA:  
With everyone's scriptures open, have people take a turn acting out (like charades) or drawing (like pictionary) a beatitude and having the other people guess.  Once the correct beatitude is guessed, use it as an opportunity to read it in full and discuss in more detail. 


A GREAT QUOTE:  I found on the church website about what the Beatitudes really are: 

"The Beatitudes contain the heart of the Master’s teachings and show his spirit and way of life. It was his aim to teach his disciples and give them a better understanding of the gospel, because a real disciple of Christ should have a character made up of these traits...

Whenever we live up to the best that is in us, we live up to the principles and the ideals the Savior gave us. To follow him brings peace to the soul." 
{"The Beatitudes", Elder O. Leslie Stone, General Conference, October 1974}


LET ME KNOW
If you end up using these activities to reinforce the CFM reading in your homes or in your classroom, I'd love to hear how it goes.  Did it spark a great conversation?  Did your kids show interest in a gospel concept?   Does it make learning a little more fun?  I hope these activity sheets are meaningful for you!


Click here to see my other Come, Follow Me activity pages.  

Come, Follow Me Activity Sheet with Word Search for January 30 - February 5, 2023 {Matthew 4; Luke 4-5}

"The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me"

My husband is a fisherman and loves these chapters in the New Testament about Peter's, Andrew's James', and John's call to the ministry.  There's something powerful about Christ taking these men who felt so fallible and calling them to something greater.  Isn't that how He is with all of us?   I created this printable activity page to be a way for kids to dive in and really think about what it means to be a "fisher of men".  

January 30 - February 5, 2023
Matthew 4; Luke 4-5

These pages are created to be printed double sided, so that each page is 1/2 sheet of  an 8-1/2 x 11" paper.

ANOTHER TEACHING IDEA: 
Create a fishing game with a wooden dowel, string, and magnet.   Have paper fish with paper clips on that they can "catch" with the rod.  On each fish, list an idea of ways that they can be "fishers of men" right now.   The ideas from the word search would be perfect.  


A GREAT QUOTE:  I found on the church website about what it means to become a "fisher of men": 

"In Matthew 4:19 we read the following: “And he saith unto them, Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” This is the same invitation that the Saviour Jesus Christ is extending to each one of us: to follow Him and share His message.

So what do we share? In 2 Nephi 25:26 we read: “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” We talk of Christ. In the above verse we could replace ‘our children’ to ‘our friends’: “that [our friends] may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins”.

We should do this in a normal and natural way. People will want to know more about the Saviour and His gospel because they know us. Missionary work is not an event or an activity; it is part of who we are as we live the gospel of Jesus Christ."  {Fishers of Men, Elder Ciro Schmeil, Ensign, Feb 2022}

LET ME KNOW
If you end up using these activities to reinforce the CFM reading in your homes or in your classroom, I'd love to hear how it goes.  Did it spark a great conversation?  Did your kids show interest in a gospel concept?   Does it make learning a little more fun?  I hope these are meaningful for you!


Click here to see my other Come, Follow Me activity pages.